Main suspect's brother says money and drugs behind Strovolos murders

Solomou says his brother was abusive and under the influence before the horrific crime

Strovolos double murder suspect says his half brother was under the influence when he killed the couple

Newsroom

14 MAY 2018 - 15:15

The brother of the main suspect in the Strovolos double murder case is pointing fingers at his brother, telling investigators that money and drug abuse were behind the crime.

Investigators are trying to sort through statements by four suspects in connection with the murders of a married couple in Strovolos, 60-year-old Yiorgos Hadjigeorgiou and his 59-year-old wife Dina Sergiou, who were found savagely stabbed to death in the bedroom of their own home on April 18.

One of the suspects, 23-year-old Lefteris Solomou, reportedly told investigators that his half brother, 33-year-old main suspect Loizos Tzionis, was acting out of character a couple of days before the murders.

According to Solomou, Tzionis believed he was having a conversation with Go while also having nightmares and sleeping with a sword and knife next to him. He also said his older brother was in debt, owing money to a drug dealer, and thought the residence of the victims’ residence had a money safe with at least €800,000.

He said Tzionis had asked Siams to make a sandwich so that he could take it to the teenager

Solomou also told investigators when he was just shy of 17 years of age, Tzionis took him outside the residence on Zalongou Street and told him about the amount of money and additional jewelry, while also showing him a key that the main suspect told him it was the kitchen key.

The 23-year-old half brother said he wanting nothing to do with that, and the subject was neber brought up again nor did he ever see that key again, according to statements he made to investigators.

Two other suspects are also in custody, Tzionis’ 21-year-old girlfriend Sara Siams and 22-year-old Marios Hadjixenofondos, with the four of them facing potentially over a dozen charges when they appear in criminal court to enter a plea on June 13.

Solomou also told investigators that he called Siams in early April, asking her to meet to discuss Tzionis’ situation and strange behaviour.

Suspect says too much cocaine

“Tzionis is burned out from doing too much coke,” Siams told Solomou according to the main suspect’s brother, who said the girl told him that Tzionis would wake up suddenly in the middle of the night, completely drained in sweat, and open the window to look aside.

The two of them rejected Tzionis’ offer to help him commit a burglary, according to Solomou, who told authorities that another man, Hadjixenofondos, offered to do it because he needed the money, at least 800-1000 euro to settle quickly a drug debt.

Solomou said the other two male suspects were getting ready and choosing weapons while he and Siams never believed they would go through with it. He also said that Tzionis was out of character and that he was abusing Siams sexually and physically.

He also said that Tzionis described on April 18, after the murders, how he killed the couple and that he left a child behind and wanted to go back to look for the safe. He said Tzionis had asked Siams to make a sandwich so that he could take it to the teenager. But, according to Solomou, police were already at the scene when Tzionis approached the residence.